Howa Type 64
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Barrel
- 450 mm
- Weight, empty
- 4.40 kg
- Introduced
- 1964
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Howa Type 64 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, produced by Howa Industries since 1964. This Japanese-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 20-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 17.7-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 4400g (155.2 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The Type 64 represents Japan's postwar rearmament philosophy of self-sufficiency in weapons design while adapting Western calibers for Japanese service requirements. The decision to use reduced-charge ammunition rather than adopt a different caliber was both practical and political, maintaining NATO ammunition compatibility on paper while creating a more manageable weapon for Japanese soldiers. The fire selector has a famously cryptic fourth position labeled 'ア' (the Japanese character for 'a'), colloquially known as the 'Hit the Target' setting.
The Type 64 has never been exported due to Japan's strict arms export restrictions (Article 9-related policies), making it exclusively a JSDF weapon. Its reduced-charge 7.62mm ammunition is not interchangeable with standard NATO rounds without adjustment to the gas regulator. The rate reducer mechanism is a distinctive feature, using a mechanical delay system in the trigger group to control the cyclic rate. The rifle features a hinged buttplate designed to improve accuracy during automatic fire. The Type 64 began being replaced by the 5.56mm Type 89 rifle starting in 1989, and the newer Howa Type 20 is now entering service as the ultimate replacement. Despite this, many Type 64s remain in reserve service. Approximately 230,000 units were manufactured.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Howa Machinery
- Category
- Battle Rifle
- Country
- Japan
- Status
- In service
- Produced
- 1964
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 450 mm
- Overall length
- 990 mm
- Weight, empty
- 4.40 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.90 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- Parkerized
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 700 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2287 J
- Effective range
- 400 m
- Maximum range
- 800 m
- Rate of fire
- 500 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Select fire- Rate reducer mechanism
Hinged buttplate
Bipod mount
Bayonet mount
Reduced charge ammunition
Short stroke gas piston
Manual gas regulator
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 86 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 4.40 kg | 4.30 kg | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 85 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 990 mm | 1025 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 450 mm | 458 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 87 7.62x51mm NATO battle rifles | 20 | 20 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Howa Type 64
How much does the Howa Type 64 weigh?
The Howa Type 64 weighs 4.40 kg (9.70 lb) empty and 4.90 kg (10.80 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Howa Type 64?
The Howa Type 64 is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Howa Type 64 hold?
The Howa Type 64 holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Howa Type 64?
The Howa Type 64 is 990 mm (39.0 in) long overall, with a 450 mm (17.7 in) barrel.
Who makes the Howa Type 64?
The Howa Type 64 is made by Howa Machinery (Japan). It was designed by General Iwashita / Howa Industries.
When was the Howa Type 64 introduced?
The Howa Type 64 was introduced in 1964.
How does the Howa Type 64 operate?
The Howa Type 64 uses a gas operated action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF)
- 1964
- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)
- 1964
- Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)
- 1964
- Japan Coast Guard
- Japan
- Special Assault Team (SAT)
- Japan
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/howa-type-64' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "howa-type-64", "name": "Howa Type 64", "manufacturer": { "id": "howa", "name": "Howa Machinery", "countryCode": "JP", "foundedYear": 1907, "website": "https://www.howa.co.jp", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "92a63959c6eadbabe566297f6ef96a1554d837fd5792be753c7906ecdbc12361" }, "category": { "id": "battle-rifle", "name": "Battle Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in full-power cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "JP", "year_introduced": 1964, "barrel_length_mm": 450, "weight_empty_g": 4400, "action_type": "gas_operated"}